Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-15
A TOWN COUNCIL OF WOMEN.
Something About the "Aldermen'' of
Syracuse, Kansas.
SALINA, KAN, June 9, 1857.

Syracuse, Kansas.
SALrNA, KAN, June Q, 1887.
To THE EprToR OF THE TIMEs:-
l have just returned from trip on
the Santa Fe road west. Syracuse,
Is miles from the Colorado line, was
the Mecca of my pilgrimage, because
here, April 4th, they elected a City
Council of women, and l was bent
upon seeing the town that had made
this innovation, and the women who
were filling the Council chairs. /
wanted to ask the people how it came
about, and how it was working.
The first of these ladies introduced
to me was Mrs. E. B. Barber, a fair
faced, gentle hammered woman, with
an unmistakable air of business about
her. ] found this accounted for by
the fact that she is business woman.
Her husband does large and CON-
plicated business; the books are en-
tirely in her charge. Mrs. H. d.
Mott, chairman of the Syracuse alder
manic force, is business woman, too.
l expect much of her, because of her
experience in Iowa as President of
the Eighth District Woman Suffrage
Society. Mrs. M. M. Riggles Is a
quiet little woman, careful and con-
scientious mother and housewife. She
has a way of making up her mind for
herself and standing firmly by her
convictions. Among Syracuse male
citizens she has reputation for being
a person of excellent judgment. Mrs.
5. N. Coe is a woman of splendid
ability, with enough conservatism to
keep her enthusiasm in proper check.
No one of these women is more anx-
ious to do right than Mrs. Coe. The
fifth member, Mrs. L. M. Swartwood,
| did not see, though l made an effort
to do so. She was confined to her
home by sickness; but am told that
she Is woman of ability, and by no
means behind her sisters in any requi-
site for her position.
My short acquaintance with these
women convinced me that sitting in
council chairs and wrestling with
questions of city polity has had no
effect to unsex them-whatever that
may be-for these were as womanly
women as l have ever seen. | looked
in vain for masculine tendencies.
There was not hint of it in dress or
manner. Meeting them on the street
or in the cars, you would never guess
that they were city officials. From
conversation with them, l learned
that they were exceedingly anxious to
make their administration just one
one that would advance the best in
terests of their city; and when they
spoke of advancing the interests of
their city, they betrayed the fact that
they had in mind the city's moral as
we'll as temporal prosperity. 1t is
said of them that they are doing bet
ter work than the body of men who
composed the previous Council
Their townspeople say the women
were elected because "somebody pro-
posed it and everybody was pleased
with the idea"; because cit was be-
lieved they would make excellent off
cers"; because "the temperance peo-
Pile thought women wouldn't be
afraid to enforce the prohibitory law;
because tive wanted to advertise our
town" (this last from a member of q
real estate frm); because "women
would take time to do the work we'll
and thoughtfully."
Altogether, was we'll pleased with
my first sight Of woman council
This is the only one in the United
States. LAURA M. JOHNS.
- L..